Famous cat ladies: Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, and Kim Kardashian

The term "cat lady" is usually synonymous with a single woman who has dozens of felines and no social life … but that's not true for them all! Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, and Kim Kardashian are just a few of the many famous females who are loud and proud about their love of their fluffy pets. And they're all constantly posting "Aww"-worthy photos of their cats on Twitter and Instagram.

While Kardashian had dogs when she was with ex-husband Kris Humpries, it seems she dumped the species when she split from him. New boyfriend/publicity stunt Kanye West gifted the reality star with a white Persian kitten in September, which they named Mercy — after the first single off his new album, Cruel Summer (also, not for publicity, right?). Kardashian "debuted" the poor thing for a throng of fans and photographers in Miami, where she was filming another season of her reality show with her sisters Khloe and Kourtney. "Kanye knew I would need some company when he wasn't around," she wrote on her blog, "so he surprised me with her." After a few good weeks of press, little Mercy hasn't been seen since mid-October. Let's hope she is being well taken care of by someone!

Perry, for one, is so obsessed with her cat, Kitty Purry (get it? KP and KP!), she made the brown-and-white cutie her "mascot" for her California Dreams tour. During her performance, a large inflatable Kitty Purry was propped up onstage and even someone dressed as the cat joined Perry during meet-and-greets backstage. The "Wide Awake," who named her perfume Meow!, was actually more of a dog person growing up. "I hated cats … I really didn't understand cats. Then, all of a sudden, a cat kind of walked into my life and wouldn't leave, and her name is Kitty Purry." And the ball of fur has taught Perry a lot ever since. "I started to have to be a little more patient, I had to really kind of figure her out. And then I started to notice, 'Oh my God, maybe that's kind of how I am.' You have to take a little patience with me. You have to earn my affection."

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Taylor Swift and Meredith. (Instagram)

Swift is well-known for falling for boyfriends, but there's one love of her life that she's yet to write a breakup song about: her cat, Meredith! Named after Ellen Pompeo's character on "Grey's Anatomy," the little kitten instantly stole the heart of her owner — and all of the singer's fans. The 22-year-old's Twitter feed is full of adorable snapshots of Meredith, whether it's just sitting around the house or even watching the Olympics from her owner's bed. Earlier this year, Swift even used her pet to help garner votes for Entertainer of the Year for the Academy of Country Music Awards. In a video she posted online, the "Red" singer is explaining to her cat how fans can vote once a day and asked what she thought about it. Meredith's response? Lots of meows.

When a defenseless little gray kitten was cruelly thrown out of a moving car on New York City's Verrazano Bridge (but luckily survived) in July 2011, many were shocked and appalled and wanted to give the Russian blue a good home. But after his appearance on "The View" days later to, well, "share" his story, host Whoopi Goldberg made a plea to be the lucky one. Weeks later, the kitten, named Verrazano, was all hers. Although it was a rocky start when it came to Goldberg's other cat, Oliver, the two boys are now buddies. Vinny, as she calls him, "is having the time of his life."

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Beth and Charlie Boy. (Twitter)

Howard Stern's gorgeous wife, Beth, is such a huge animal lover, she works extensively with the North Shore Animal League in Long Island, New York. But after years of owning dogs, the model decided to open up her home to kitties, too. Last year, she and the shock jock adopted two cats, Walter and Apple, who joined their beloved bulldog, Bianca. But after the pooch's sad passing in July, the Sterns decided to fill the void with another homeless cat named Charlie Boy. "We are in love with him," she tweeted shortly after his arrival in early October. "Adopting an adult cat is incredible!" And according to Beth, it's less work than a dog. "Cats are so easy," she told People last year. "I would definitely welcome more cats into the Stern household." Hear that, Howard?

A lifelong cat lover, it wasn't until her 19-year-old cat passed last year that "Dancing With the Stars" judge Carrie Ann Inaba was inspired to do a little more about her passion. Earlier this year, she created a web series, "Crib Cat," which highlighted a homeless feline in need of a home. Although the project has been incredibly rewarding, "I go to bed crying sometimes because you can't save them all." But that doesn't mean she hasn't tried! Inaba began fostering cats … and then got so attached, she adopted them herself. At last count, she had six, as well as an older dog she also took in.

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Two of Carrie Ann Inaba's six rescued cats, Bubble and Maile. (Twitter)